Fissures vs. Fistula
Main DifferenceThe main difference between Fissures, and Fistula is that Fissures are more painful because they are produced as a result of the tear or cut in the skin around the anus, while Fistula is known as the slight opening that occurs in the skin near the anus, and have pus in it.

Difference Between Fissures and Fistula
Fissures vs. Fistula
The type of cracks or tear happens around the skin of the anal canal or near the anus, resulting in severe pain is known as anal fissure or fissure. However the small opening in the anal area and a kind of tubular organ or passageway between two infected tissues is known as anal fistula or fistula. The fistula is a cavity that is occupied with pus.
Fissures vs. Fistula
Fissure, in contrast, cause more pain, and the sufferer avoids the use of the toilet, while fistula is more severe, and pus is discharged from the anus.
Fistulanoun
(medicine) An abnormal connection or passageway between organs or vessels that normally do not connect.
Fistulanoun
(rare) A tube, a pipe, or a hole.
Fistulanoun
The tube through which the wine of the Eucharist was once sucked from the chalice.
Fistulanoun
a chronic inflammation of the withers of a horse
Fistulanoun
an abnormal passage leading from a suppurating cavity to the body surface
Comparison Chart
Fissures | Fistula |
Fissures are recognized as a cut or tear near the anal canal, and it causes much pain. | Fistula is known as the passage which connects the infected anal gland to the anal abscess, and this passage is created when the anal gland gets infected and causes the formation of an anal abscess, which starts discharging pus. |
Considered As | |
It considered the kind of cracks present in the skin of the anal canal. | It considered as the small opening around the anal canal, and it is a type of cavity that is filled with pus. |
Symptoms | |
The symptoms are that they cause a lot of pain in the anal area, in which a sufferer starts to avoid the use of the toilet, but bleeding is irregular in it. | It is the worst condition of two because, in fistula, the pus regularly releases from the anal area. |
Causes | |
Various causes of fissures are pregnancy, Crohn’s disease, constipation, cluttering, and giving pressure to the anus. | Some reasons are that people who are suffering from Crohn's disease, obesity, continuously sitting in one place, and constipation. |
Prevention | |
Can also be prevented by taking appropriate liquid diet and a high fiber diet | Can be prevented by adapting the hygiene habits while using the toilet |
Treatment | |
The treatment available for fissure is the lateral sphincterotomy, which provides immediate relief. | The proper treatment is done by the MRI or ultrasound scan. |
Fissures vs. Fistula
Fissure is regarded as the kind of cracks present in the skin of the anal canal, whereas fistula is considered as the small opening around the anal canal. It is the type of cavity that is filled with pus.
The symptoms of fissures are, they create a lot of pain in the anal area, in which a sufferer starts to avoid the use of the toilet. Still, bleeding is irregular in it, while in fistula, its symptoms are that it is the worst condition of above two, because, in fistula, the pus frequently releases from the anal area.
The various causes of fissures are pregnancy, Crohn’s disease, constipation, cluttering, and giving pressure to the anus, while some causes of fistula are that people who are suffering from Chron’s disease, obesity, continuously sitting in one place, and constipation.
The fissures can also be prevented by taking proper liquid diet and a high fiber diet, while fistula can be prevented by adapting the hygiene habits while using the toilet.
What is Fissure?
The fissure is known as the tear or cuts in the anal area, which causes more pain. The fissure is recognized when the stool does not pass quickly, and chronic constipation happens, and the patient tries to stretch and puts pressure on its sphincter muscles.
If proper medication is given with liquid and diet rich fibers, the fissure can be curable within weeks. But if more stress and pressure is put on the sphincter muscles, it can become more miserable and may cause bleeding and release of the pus.
What is Fistula?
Fistula is known as the passage between the infected anal gland and the anal abscess. The anal gland is the middle portion of the anus that gets infected and produce the anal abscess, which then begins the discharging of the pus.
The fistula can be caused by cancer, radiations, warts, Crohn’s disease, trauma, and many other diseases that are related to the bowel. The fistula mostly occurs in people with obesity, and for a long time, always sitting in one place.
The symptoms of fistula are redness and irritation near the anus or anal canal, swelling, pain, and discharge of pus through the passage. It can be treated and diagnosed; however, antibiotics are also given for the top cure for fistula.
ConclusionThe above discussion concludes that the fissure is the crack or tear in the anus causing more pain, whereas fistula is the opening in the anal area filled with pus.